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Wednesday, May 24, 2000
When it came
to state titles,
everybody won
Eleven different schools were
crowned HHSAA champions;
Punahou led the pack with
five, Kamehameha had fourBy Dave Reardon
1999-2000 HHSAA CHAMPIONS
Star-BulletinIf you tote up the state team championships, 1999-2000 was the Year of the Warriors in Hawaii high school sports.
But that's only because Kamehameha and Waiakea share the nickname. The schools combined for six state titles (Kamehameha four, Waiakea two).
If you want the most state crowns for one school, that would be Punahou, with five.
In what some considered a down year for the Buffanblu, Punahou still won Hawaii High School Athletic Association championships in boys' volleyball, girls' cross country, girls' swimming and diving, boys' tennis, and girls' track and field.
The Kamehameha Warriors' championships came in boys' cross country, girls' volleyball, boys' track and field and girls' basketball.
The Waiakea Warriors' state victories were in boys' and girls' golf.
As usual, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu was the dominant league, with 16 titles. Iolani also scored four HHSAA championships, in boys' soccer, boys' wrestling, softball and girls' tennis.While the ILH dwarfed the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (four titles), Maui Interscholastic League (three), Oahu Interscholastic Association (two) and Kauai Interscholastic Federation (none), it was still a year of relative parity, in which 11 different schools won championships.
"Whenever championships are spread out among schools it's a good thing," HHSAA Executive Director Keith Amemiya said.
While sharing of the wealth was one theme of the year, it began business as usual for the state's most dominant and high-profile athletic machine. Just the format was different.
Myth became reality for the St. Louis School football team last fall.
After 14 consecutive victories in the Prep Bowl, often described as the mythical state championship, the Crusaders finally were allowed to make it official in 1999.
The HHSAA held its first state championship in football, an eight-team tournament involving teams from leagues throughout the state.
Previously, the ILH champion played the OIA champion in the Prep Bowl, a format which did not result in an official state champion.
St. Louis, which is often nationally ranked, has been the unofficial state champion for more than a decade.
Crusaders' coach Cal Lee, who was named national high school coach of the year, said the official title of state champion is nice, and the tournament was long overdue.
"It showed the neighbor island teams could compete against Oahu teams," Lee said. "The competition was even at times, and they showed they could play against some of the so-called bigger schools. They shouldn't be made to feel like they're on another planet."
Two neighbor island teams brought Oahu squads down to earth in the first round, as Baldwin beat Farrington, 25-19, and Waimea beat Kailua, 20-18.
St. Louis beat Kahuku, 19-0, in the final, and Crusaders' quarterback Timmy Chang was among the nation's best at his position.
But the neighbor islands had gained a measure of respect -- for being invited to the party, and bringing something to it.
"It's something we'd been fighting for for a long time," Baldwin athletic director Jon Garcia said. "Finally getting involved with the Oahu teams was good."
The tournament was a money-maker, too, bringing the HHSAA a $231,893 profit (75 percent of the money went back to the leagues, and most of the rest was used to run other state tournaments).
The winter state championships were dominated by Iolani and Baldwin.
The Raiders won the softball, boys' soccer and boys' wrestling titles. The 1-0 softball win over Mililani in the state final was one of the most dramatic games of the year, as Mitzi Ing pitched a perfect game and scored the winning run.
At the same time, the Bears made a run of their own, taking girls' soccer, boys' swimming and coming close in girls' swimming.
Baldwin won 13 of a possible 23 MIL team championships.
"We had a similar year in the early '90s, but this was the best because of the state championships," Garcia said.
Hilo capped the winter sports calendar by winning the boys' basketball championship.
Spring highlights include superb team performances by Molokai baseball, Kamehameha girls' basketball and boys' track and field, and Punahou girls' track and field. They all won state championships.
Individually, Punahou's Victoria Chang capped one of the most dominant Hawaii high school distance running careers ever, as she won the two longest events at the state meet for the fourth time. (In her freshman and sophomore years, the distances were 1,600 and 3,200 meters. They were changed to 1,500 and 3,000 meters in 1999.)
Gender equity continued to be an issue, as the HHSAA and the leagues try to progress to the point of equal opportunities for participation for girls and boys.
The ILH's approval of cheerleading as a competitive sport beginning next year could add to girls' participation numbers, which still lag because of football.
"We're always trying to increase opportunities for girls and boys," said Amemiya, who pointed out that the semifinals and finals of the girls' state basketball tournament were televised, while the boys' were not. "I don't believe in addition by subtraction."
That could happen in football, though. The sports participants could decrease in 2001, due to a roster limitation in the ILH of 65 per team. St. Louis had a roster in excess of 100 players last year, partly because there was no junior varsity football in the league.
Lee, who met with ILH principals last week, said they are open to reconsidering the limitation, because the rule was voted on without input from the league's athletic directors.
"It's kind of on hold and open for discussion," Lee said. "I feel we have a good chance. If you limit football, what about other sports (with large numbers)?"
Another issue, which will be discussed at the state athletic directors' meeting on Maui next month, concerns the number of teams in state tournaments. Currently 12 teams make each tournament, except for football, with eight.
Some feel the tournaments should be expanded to 16 teams, with winners of regionals on various islands advancing to a championship final four.
Advocates say the format allows more teams in the state tournament while cutting expenses. Those against it dislike that the tournament would last two weeks.
"It could also increase travel costs for some teams," Amemiya said. "I'm unsure as to (16 teams) chances of passing. Some people like the fact that the tournaments are a war of attrition, that you have to survive three or four tough games in a row.
"You'll never please everyone," he said.
1999-2000 HHSAA CHAMPIONS
